Guide Part 9 (World War Hulk)

Welcome to World War Hulk

There are several time-tested absolute certainties, but almost all of them have holes. You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Or what? He’ll smile at you and teach you a life lesson you’ll never forget? You don’t spit into the wind? This one’s pretty good actually, but what if you’re trying to hit someone behind you? Could be a fairly clever sneak attack. You don’t mess around with Jim? Who the heck is Jim?

One certainty that holds up through all things, though?

You don’t make the Hulk angry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.

In World War Hulk Marvel Universe’s finest heroes (or are they?) put this to the test as Big, Mean, and MAD Bruce Banner returns from space and the events of Planet Hulk. Hulk has a very personal vendetta against the Illuminati (Iron Man, Black Bolt, Namor, and Reed Richards to be specific) and all of New York City is going to pay.

Below you’ll find my preferred reading order for the collected trades of World War Hulk, followed by an issue-by-issue reading order. You can also check out the full Hulk reading order, for even more green smashing. As with any portion of this guide, I’d recommend going back to the start to make sure you’re caught up; in this case I would VERY strongly urge you to read Planet Hulkbefore you rush into WWH. Otherwise, if you have any questions/comments, let me hear about it. Enjoy!

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Collects Avengers: The Initiative (4-5), Irredeemable Ant-Man #10, Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D (19-20), Ghost Rider (12-13), WWH: X-Men (1-3). This is a pretty good value for all of the various tie-ins included. Fairly easy to use the issue-by-issue guide below to read each issue in its right place as well.

Paul Jenkin’s take on the real people affected by the craziness of the Marvel U isn’t quite as inspired as his Civil War: Frontline, but I wouldn’t let the negative Amazon feedback get you too down on this one – it’s a good tie-in for the series.

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If you like Comic Book Herald, and are able to donate, any small contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content. Donate here! Or, support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards! Thank you for reading!

Ayy thanks for all the gr8 guides! 2 minor qualms: Hulk 111 takes place between World War Hulk 4 and 5, and you gotta include Heroes for Hire 15, probably immediately after issue 14, since it’s the conclusion of both that story arc and that series itself!

Not necessarily. You can actually pretty cleanly go through WWH without all of the Initiative. You’ll want the Iron Man: Director of SHIELD and Avengers: The Initiative issues under your belt, and you’re pretty much good to go into Hulk from there.

I really enjoyed World War Hulk and I really can’t see how Planet Hulk (which I’ve yet to read) could have made it any more so. However, I’m a bit confused as to why neither WWH Aftersmash: Damage Control nor WWH Aftersmash: Warbound weren’t included. I did check the Secret Invasion & Tie-Ins and didn’t find it there either.
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